DRUMMER CAFE

It's an old Van Halen song but I hadn't listened to it in a long time. I can't figure out exactly what Alex is doing in the intro. I have questions concerning what drums he is playing on (tom-tom, floor tom, bass drum, etc.) and what kinds of patterns he playing. If any of you guys know or can figure it out, please let me know.

Nah, I think that's the real Alex. He's a far better drummer than many give him credit for, with a wickedly fast pair of feet (try playing along to "Get Up" off the 5150 CD) and a great wide-open cymbal sound.

I don't have the CD handy, but as I recall, he had a shuffle going on between his bass drums, while he would fill the 2nd note of the triplet at seemingly random intervals on a floor tom.

At the time he was using a lot of Simmons and/or triggered drum sounds, so both his kicks and his floor toms had a similarly "clicky" sound. The intro sounds like a badly tuned Harley starting up - I love it!

During the "1984" tour, AVH used a Simmons kit that was placed in his acoustic shells where the head would normally go.  It was integrated with his acoustic kit.  One reason for the monster size kit he had.  Of course, the other being it was the 80's and all things in rock were big, including drums, hair and pickles.  

YOU SUCK POPS

I have fallen, and I can't get up because I am ROFL so hard!

If you notice, on every Van Halen, there is a "one taker," a song that is done live in one take.  Hot for Teacher was that song on 1984.  It's all Alex.  He is simply a phenominal drummer.  One of my all time favorites.

You should also check out a couple of the other "one takers," Big Money on Balance, Source of Infection on OU812 & Eruption/You Really Got Me on Van Halen.  These are just a few, I can't remember the names of all of them, but it just goes to show how amazing Eddie, Mike and Alex really are.  For the "Van Hagar" bashers, Sammy was playing the rhythm guitar and singing lead vocals on all the ones he was a part of.  Eddie and Mike did the backing vocals live as well.  These guys are good, just a d**n shame they can't get their s**t together enough to keep a good lead singer.  Oh well!    That's "the biz!"

FINALLY!  Felix and I find some common ground!!

Oh C'mon...he didn't even make the infamous "over-rated" drummers' thread.

BTW...I think sammy hagar was a much more agreeable than Diamond David LEE...oh man...I am so glad I am not him.

Anyone catch the "Sam and Dave Show" on VH1 last weekend?  A brief history of the band and loads of info on the Sam and Dave tour, etc.  The interesting thing about it was Michael Anthony was hanging out with Sammy after the tour this summer, doing interviews for the show!!  Plus, EVH has always said he fired Sammy because he(EVH) is a workaholic and Sammy was a little less inclined to take it that serious.  After EVH's recent bout and recovery from cancer and divorce, perhaps he has learned to relax and take his band for what it is, rock and roll.  Which = fun, not so much work!!   Do I smell a Van Hagar reunion???

Yes, but Sammy did say he has changed his mind and wouldn't be against rejoining the band.  I hope that happens, since the Gary Cherone stuff wasn't very good, and they don't seem to have many other options.  The music they put out together was pretty good.